May 2-5, 2026: Track the waning Flower Moon as it moves past Antares and through Scorpius. See exact positions before sunrise and after sunset with binocular views.
Venus as an Evening Star
Moon, Scorpius
With brilliant Venus and Jupiter dominating the evening sky, the bright waning Flower moon passes Scorpius. The moon rises later each evening, near the midnight hour. The moon’s place with the stars is also visible before sunrise. Use a binocular to see the starfield with the lunar orb.
After Sunset
Here’s what to see four hours after sunset:
May 2: The gibbous moon, 98% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southeast horizon. It is 3.6° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco) and 4.9° to the lower right of Dschubba, the Scorpion’s crown or forehead.
May 3: The waning moon, 94% illuminated, is nearly 11° above the southeast horizon, 1.9° to Antares’ lower right. On celestial artwork the star marks the creature’s heart.
May 4: Around the midnight hour, the 88% lit moon is 4° above the horizon.
Before Sunrise
Look for the moon one hour before sunrise:
May 3: The bright moon, 97% illuminated, is over 10° above the southeast horizon, 2.0° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii (π Sco).
May 4: The bright gibbous moon, 93% illuminated, is nearly 15° above the south-southwest horizon, 3.4° to Antares lower left.
May 5: The waning moon, 88% illuminated, is nearly 20° above the south-southwest horizon, over 15° to Antares’ upper left. The lunar orb is over 8° above the curved of the Scorpion’s tail, Shaula, and the stinger, Lesath. The pair is sometimes known as the “Cat’s Eyes.”
After sunset and before sunrise, look for the bright waning moon with Scorpius.
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, May 21: Crescent Moon Near the Beehive Cluster with Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 21, 2026: See the crescent moon near the Beehive Cluster after sunset while brilliant Venus and Jupiter shine in the western sky. Saturn appears before sunrise in the east. - 2026, May 20: Waxing Crescent Moon Near Jupiter as Venus Brightens the Evening Sky
May 20, 2026: See the waxing crescent moon near Jupiter after sunset while brilliant Venus shines in the west-northwest. Saturn climbs higher before sunrise as Mercury moves into the evening sky. - 2026, May 19: Crescent Moon Between Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
May 19, 2026: See the crescent moon between brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset while Saturn climbs higher in the eastern sky before sunrise. Learn where and when to look. - 2026, May 18: Closest Venus–Moon Conjunction of the Evening Apparition Lights the Western Sky
May 18, 2026: See the closest Venus–Moon conjunction of this evening apparition as brilliant Venus shines beside the crescent moon after sunset. Learn when and where to look. - 2026, May 17-20: Waxing Crescent Moon Passes Venus and Jupiter in May Evening Sky
May 17-20, 2026: Watch the waxing crescent moon pass brilliant Venus and Jupiter after sunset. The May 18 Venus–Moon pairing is one of the prettiest sights of the planet’s 2026 evening apparition.